Facial Pain, Dizziness, going on 15 months - not sinus infection - PLEASE help

[sickstudent]

So allergies might not be the correct section for this but I am at a loss for the cause so putting it here among related posts.

I am SO desperate for help on this issue it is making me depressed so have turned to this. Please do not skip since a long post, as I feel it may be necessary to give all the details and not have people suggest things that are ruled out.

The main symptoms of my problem are a combination of facial pain in my cheeks, dizziness or feeling ‘off’, vision difficulties, and a rapid heart beat. I have read some posts online of similar problems, but all seem to revolve around sinus infections which apparently isn’t a problem for me. Given that I am a university student entering my final courses and this problem has persisted over 15 months so far, it has me incredibly concerned and doctors are either at a loss for my problem or just not willing to help.

Allow me to explain the past 15 months in more detail, perhaps someone has had some similar history.

So one day the end of May 2007 I was sitting on my couch studying as usual. I noticed pain in my cheeks and the bridge of my nose and some tightness in my forehead. This is turn seemed to affect my eyes as it seemed when I was studying that words seemed either over focused or doubled, at the same time. My concentration was affected and I would sit there rubbing my face. At this point I found decongestants seemed to help and I could go along as usual. I brought this up to my doctor and I tried various types of sinus medications as she was sure it was an infection. These didn’t help and one day I actually felt dizzy and unsteady. We assumed it was a side affect of the meds and I stopped talking them. I had short periods of panic and my heart would race when I didn’t feel right. At the end of June I went on a holiday to Miami taking a load of medications but alas I was 100% fine there and upon returning felt fine more or less (despite a crazy cold due to a moldy hotel room). Throughout the summer I would have the odd day of facial pressure, but nothing a decongestant couldn’t seem to relieve.
Starting in September symptoms started coming up more frequently and the beginning of October 2007 I had this dizziness feeling, not like I was going to fall down or things were spinning, but like I was doped up on medications and not 100% in control of my body. It was extremely difficult to get through school for the next 2 months. I went to two different ENT doctors, both saying my sinuses were actually fine. One said it was maybe stress but there was no real trigger point around any of this and I felt these symptoms were actually what brought on the stress. I tried a variety of nasal sprays with no real results. The doctor put me on prednisone for a week the end of Oct and I felt drastically better for part of that, only to slip right back into it again afterwards. When it all got extremely bad in November I went to emergency and they tried the prednisone again for 10 days but this time it didn’t work.

I have had problems with headaches/neck & back problems my entire life due to car accidents as a child but that I had actually felt I had gotten more under control with acupuncture for my back and dry needling to my neck and scalp to relieve the headaches, rather than traditional chiropractic which never had much results.

Throughout December 2007 my symptoms seemed to gradually subside a little bit. I did go for sinus acupuncture at the beginning of Dec, but given I have tried that recently too with no results, I’m not sure if that contributed in Dec after all. First the dizziness drifted away, and then the facial pressure and occasional swollen/stuffed up nose. From the beginning of January until later in March EVERY symptom drifted away. I still had extremely stressful periods in that time with school but nothing seemed to bring back the problems so I do not think stress is the cause. I was definitely not convinced it wouldn’t return, but hoped it was some virus I had finally kicked. Then one day later in March I got quite congested for a couple days, and some facial pressure, then suddenly the dizziness came back a week later and I was under my constant fog again.

It is very difficult to explain the dizziness.. it’s like an unsteadiness and my eyes seem to over focus. If I were to look at one thing, it seems like it takes longer and more energy to focus, and then when I switch to look at something else, it unfocuses, slowly moves and then longer to refocuses again (not minutes or anything that dramatic). I did have my eyes checked and they said there was a small area I could have reading glasses, but due to the nature of my symptoms this did not seem to be the cure. I also find that sometimes when I stare at something it suddenly pops out at me and overfocuses then becomes blurry. This is especially noticeable and troublesome if I am at any kind of store. All of this causes much eye strain, which on 'normal days' is not there at all.

Since the spring I have gone for a CT scan – no problem there. Allergy tests – very very slight allergy to mold but she definitely didn’t think it could contribute to all of this. The topic of seasonal allergies had come up, but have since been ruled out, especially since when I went to Israel for a month May-June (humid in some areas, dry in others) this was not an issue at all. However, upon my return mid June it came back, almost the same day. I had a few scattered days in July where I was fine, but I have been horrible the last few weeks again and terrified for the start up of school again. I am trying a mouth guard for possible TMJ but don't believe that is helping.

Nothing in my life changed during Jan-March so I have no idea why this went away and why it is still haunting me. When all of this acts up I have no energy and get depressed because I feel like I can’t function normally. It’s impacting all aspects of my life and makes me stressed and cry almost every day. I so desperately want a cure and have no idea what to do and doctors aren’t giving me any help. I had hoped upon graduation in the spring to get a job in the United States, but if this problem is still around I cannot even think of moving somewhere with no free health care.

If anyone, ANYONE can relate or help, please please please help me!

[bartk]

I just want to let people know I was getting the same thing, it's been one year now and I might be close to finding out what the problem is and how to fix it...
so just the other night I was getting horrible sinus pressure, pain, dizziness, vision problems and very bad anxiety, I used some colloidal silver spray up my nose, 30min later I felt like I was reborn, I was so happy I could not sleep that night. Having said that this might not work for all but worked for me, I felt great for about 1 week but I stated getting crazy dizziness and crazy anxiety all day today again, so just had some colloidal silver in the nose and I'm feeling much better. I believe there might be a connection with a infected tooth and the sinus as the sinus does connect to teeth. Hope this helps other people.
thanks
Bart K from AUS QLD

[SBearO]

I read your post... It read like a mirror. I know that doesn't help, but at least you know you're not alone. I too have had sinus CT, prednisone, antibiotics, 3 MRIs, 2 EEGs... and a partridge in a pear tree. Mine has been going on for over 3 years.

I have cheek pain, forehead pain, post nasal drip, visual fogginess, mental fogginess, migraines, dizziness, and most recently severe vertigo (different from the dizziness) with nausea. At least I finally got on disability through work. I cannot drive anymore. I cannot work anymore. I hate whatever this is.

I've tried meds, PT, dry needling, massage, chiropractor, etc... with no success.

I try to stay positive... I try to be silly. But, I still think this ***** and it affects too many things.

Hoping we can all find answers soon. I'm seeing a vertigo specialist soon.

~S

[Nickster77]

Wow I have been suffering from facial pain for 3 years now and today it is just killing me. I too have been to an ENT, Neuro, GP, CT Scans, lots of medication no help. I find that when I am not at my house it eases. I am convinced something in my house is bothering me but can't work at what. I am wondering whether there is some sort of mould in my room as my floor boards have started to bubble. I have been to the best allergist in QLD who is enable to find what exactly I am allergic too. I have consistent allergy signs being puffy cheeks, sunken eyes (look amazing - NOT) but I'm not really worried about the physical look I just need to get this pain undercontrol.. Thanks for your message as I will now go back to the allergist and have my floor boards attended to.

[Jethro1964]

however, I had a very similar situation that began in Feb. 2007 and I just now found relief...call me fortunate but I have been through heck trying to find something that would work.  I too had the fascial pain still do some, but it was so terrible I couldnt move, my jaws were sore, my Massater muscles in my face would just cramp and pain and burn.  My dizziness was nuts, some days i would feel just off, enough to make me feel sick to my stomach other days I could hardly walk.  I looked ok so nobody thought I really had issues but i had em, days on end of just sitting on the couch after work missing my childrens lives and mine. It affected my eyesite so much so I have to wear glasses...my saliva glands around my jaw were constantly swollen and i could hardly touch them without feeling discomfort.  

I have seen so many doctors, dentist, specialists, testing, etc. spent so much money i could have put my children through college.  I have had splints made and got braces because i was told it was TMJ related, had CT and MRI done, blood tests, nothing nadda, so many different drugs, anti inflamatory, water pills what nots, im pilled out and almost gave up it was so unbearable feeling dizzy, sick everyday and doctor could seem to help me.

About 2 years ago I went to Alaska for a week to visit a relative, never had been before.  I noticed by the end of the week I felt great, no pain, no dizziness, i came back home and within 3 hours it all started again, but I didnt correlate that at the time.  Then I went out of town again this spring, same thing, felt better, came back to Texas and before I got to the house it all started again.  So I told my ENT this and he suggested allergy testing, hmm i had never had allergies before.  So I did it, and found i was modestly allergic to many things and I dont know why.  Anyway he had made up a allergy shot based upon my test results.  I thought yeah right...but ill try it...4 week into it nothing, same issues face pain, dizziness etc...still seeing a fascial pain expert etc.  The 5th week I started feeling different, the facial pain started to go away slightly, the dizziness was still there but on a very low scale something i could handle with a couple asprin and it would go away.  6th week I still had jaw pain but my saliva glands in my face were not swollen and sore, as they had been for 7 years, the muscles in my face didnt hurt near as much.  I have to take these shots for an entire year to help me build an immunity to whatever is helping to cause this pain.  Im not saying its a cure all getting allergy shot but in addition to the tmj splint so far my life has been better thankfully. I just wanted to pass this along as it could save someone alot of time, money and especially paint/dizziness which have been a constant factor in my life that caused much depression and a feeling of helplessness.   Ill be around and hope I continue to improve over the coming year, so far so good.

[thinkingoutsidebox]

My doctor is very smart, he is and MD/ND  is considered diagnostic expert so these are the things that I can think of  that he tested me for  before I mentioned that I want to say my very best guesses is it could be an ear infection inflammation of your sinus cavities causing pressure and causing  dizziness. This is another good guess are you  grinding or clenching your teeth, it puts pressure  on the nerves of the face which causes inflammation this could be cause of dizziness and facial pain , wear a mouth guard . Going to college can be stressful, and cause you react to the pressure by clenching or grinding your teeth  also drinking coffee makes you grind and clench your teeth too . Parasites also cause people to grind their teeth. my MD told me STOP SALT to see if it helped get rid of dizziness. The other possible explanation is hidden tooth infection or cracked tooth. Here are some tests my doc ran  some of these are not the run of the mill tests and I paid out of pocket, Full CBC , B-12 check and iron/ ferritin check, hormone, levels , thyroid  get all the glands checked to make they are all working correctly,diabetes,  get a cat scan to see if you have a pinched nerve and pinch nerve can caused dizziness .  low blood sugar. Here is something people rarely think of  food allergies , when I worked in this field. I saw someone that came in with dizziness heart palipitaion and the blood vessels had burst in their eyes, because they some brownies that had peanut oil in them! I know it is hard to believe that food allergies can cause very serious symptoms. I would  go on a simple diet like salads with avocados and get allergy tested there is a test that shows that your body cannot break down wheat it is not a regular test that most doctor even know about, Seriously would consider going on a super clean diet elimination diet for at least  8  months it takes a while to reverse the damages and get the toxins.stop  Food allergies can cause dizziness, and supplements can too. One of the most deadly things is aspartame and sugar substitutes I met someone that was hospitalized from drinking tea and the tea bags had some sort of solvent on it that was a strong chemical  Look at everything you touch, eat and smell. Stop shampoos conditioner etc and buy organic natural . Get a real lyme test from the only lab experts use it is Real Lab TEST that can is doing the PCR test not ELISA or the Western Blot. You could have an ear infection and not know it  I would just go ahead and buy some stuff on Amazon and treat your ears .  The other new illness on the  EMS stands for Electro magnetic sensitivity since everything is energy well we are effected by EM stay away from cell phones, lab tops Do you have smart meter? When was it placed on the residence ? For me I think the old meter were better safer for us Do your research you will stunned that some people actually have seizure from EMS ! Since it takes many parasite checks to get a 100% accurate results  then consider  going on a super parasite cleanse many symptoms are linked to parasites,  people will suffer needlessly for months and years because the one test they took for parasites was negative. So  think again it might be parasites. I just read the reviews on Amazon and picked Hulda  Clarks parasite cleanse It is supposed to do the trick . It also could be mold or spores ,  mycotoxins poisoning you would need to read Dr. Shoemakers book to get tested If I had to guess I would say it is hidden tooth infection or sinus inflammation,

Also think about what were doing before you got sick , did you move did you have any medical procedures and this might be a key. Consider seeing a neurologist .Find and ND or integrative medical to run a candida overgrowth test especially if you were on antibiotic before you got sick Candida overgrowth can cause dizziness too

[sexymoore]

OMG i felt as though this article was about me...I too get those pains and symptoms and with all the doctors and hospitals i have visited nothing showed up in my tests...So i was told it was anxiety...I would do anything to stop what i go through..Hope you get better though